Business Action | Late summer 2020
Late summer 2020 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes articles on inward investment, young people, news businesses and a feature on the North Devon Business of the Year 2020. The area covered includes Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.
Late summer 2020 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in the area.
This issue includes articles on inward investment, young people, news businesses and a feature on the North Devon Business of the Year 2020.
The area covered includes Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.
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WINNERS<br />
Family restores country house splendour<br />
Many business ideasremain<br />
undevelopeddreams,because<br />
theimmensityofthechallenges<br />
presentedcanbetoomuchfor<br />
peopletohandle.Ofallthe<br />
businessideasIhaveseen<br />
broughttolifein10yearsof<br />
reportinginNorthDevon,<br />
MoretonHallhastobeoneof<br />
themostambitiousandmust<br />
haverequiredextraordinary<br />
vision,faithandcommitment,<br />
writesRobertZarywacz.<br />
Ifirstbecameawareof<br />
MoretonHousethoughits<br />
@moretonhousedevon<br />
Instagramaccountandwas<br />
fascinatedbythevisual<br />
depictionofitstransformation<br />
fromderelictshelltoa<br />
welcominghome.Indeed,<br />
whenIpaidavisittoseefor<br />
myself,myfirstthoughtswere<br />
“whencanImovein?”.<br />
HelenandHarveyPhillips<br />
hadnurturedtheideaof<br />
restoringahistoricalproperty<br />
asafamilyhomeandbusiness<br />
formanyyears.Withtwo<br />
youngdaughtersgrowingup,<br />
theydecideditwastimeto<br />
settledowninEngland.<br />
Harvey’scareerintheoil<br />
industryhadtakenthemall<br />
overtheworld,whileHelen<br />
hadworkedasajournalistfor<br />
NewScientist.In2014,when<br />
lookingforasuitableproperty,<br />
Moreton House, near Bideford, is a grade-II listed Georgian country<br />
house that had been used by Grenville College until 2009. Since<br />
2016, the house has been home to the Phillips family, who are<br />
restoring it as a wedding venue and self-catering visitor<br />
accommodation. With an inviting and homely feel, the Phillips hope<br />
the house will become a much-loved part of the local community.<br />
Editor Robert Zarywacz paid a visit and marvelled at the restoration<br />
An inviting and homely feel at Moreton House. Photo by Anthony Lyons of<br />
Special Day Wedding Photos<br />
theyspottedMoretonHouse<br />
andweresurprisedwhentheir<br />
bidwontheauction.In2016,<br />
havinggivenuptheirjobs,the<br />
familymovedtoNorthDevon<br />
tobegintherenovation.<br />
HelenandHarveyadopteda<br />
hands-onapproachtothe<br />
project,butrelyonprofessional<br />
skillsformajorworks.Although<br />
newtothearea,theyfound<br />
localhelpquickly.<br />
“Ourchildrenwentto<br />
AppledoreSchoolsowegotto<br />
knowalotofbuildersand<br />
traders,”saysHelen.<br />
“We’vegotagreatteamof<br />
localguysandhaveworked<br />
exclusivelywithlocal<br />
tradespeople,”addsHarvey.<br />
Fastforwardto<strong>2020</strong>anda<br />
phasedopeninghasbegunwith<br />
fourself-cateringsuitesalready<br />
attractingguestsand300m 2 of<br />
eventspaceshortlyavailablein<br />
theMorningRoom,Entrance<br />
Hall,ClubRoomandDining<br />
Room,allwithaccesstothe<br />
gardens.Eventspacewill<br />
almostdoubleasfurtherrooms<br />
becomeavailableupto2024.<br />
Aswellasenjoyingthe<br />
relaxedatmosphereofthe<br />
houseanditsfiveacresof<br />
gardens,Helensaysthatthey<br />
wantvisitorstosamplethebest<br />
ofNorthDevonliving:“We<br />
wantpeopletocomeherefor<br />
anexperience.”<br />
Toachievethistheyare<br />
buildingrelationshipswithlocal<br />
supplierstosourceeverything<br />
fromfreshvegetablesandmeat<br />
toexperiencessuchas<br />
paddleboarding.<br />
Whilethebusinesswillrely<br />
onvisitorsfromoutsidethe<br />
area,Helenhopesthehouse<br />
willalsobecomeafavourite<br />
weddingandeventsvenuefor<br />
localfamiliesandgroups.The<br />
coupleareworkingtoinvolve<br />
children’sactivitygroupsanda<br />
localheritageproject,andare<br />
opentoideasthatwillinvolve<br />
thecommunitymorewhile<br />
maintainingtheheritage.<br />
Thereissomuchmore<br />
detailingMoretonHouse’s<br />
impressivetransformationatits<br />
websiteandonline,all<br />
expressingthePhillips’<br />
devotiontothehouse,their<br />
guestsandthecommunity.<br />
■ Details01237425519or<br />
moretonhousedevon.com<br />
Before and after: self-catering accommodation at Moreton House. Photo on right by Anthony Lyons of Special Day Wedding Photos<br />
@businessactionm | <strong>Late</strong> <strong>summer</strong> <strong>2020</strong> | business action 21
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